Stereotype plate and base.



N0-'864,802- PATENTED SEPT. 3, 1907.

I B. G. SGHMITT'. STEREOTYP'B PLATE AND BASE.

AFILIGATIOH FILED MAY 27, 1907.

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UNITED BENJAMIN O. SOI-IMITI, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

STEREOTYPE PLATE AND BASE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 3, 1907.

Application filed May 27. 1907- Serial No. 375.832.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN O. SCHMITT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stereotype Plates and Bases, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a stereotype plate and base and is designed an improvement upon United States Patent 804,210, issued to John W. Butter-field and Benjamin C. Schmitt, on November 14th, 1905.

The object of the invention is to provide a stereotype plate and base so constructed that the stereotype plate will automatically center or aline itself with the base when placed thereon,- and also so constructed that the plate will have a firm bearing with relation to the base and may be constructed of a smaller quantity of metal in proportion to its size, than was possible with the structure shown and described in the patent above referred to.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which now fol lows.

In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a stereotype plate and base constructed in accordance with. the invention, Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of said plate and base, Fig. 3 is a plan view of said base with the plate removed, and, Fig. 4 is a detail view of a locking member hereinafter described.

Like numerals designate corresponding parts in all of the figures of the drawing.

The numeral 5 designates a base which is provided with a plu 'ality of legs 6. This base has a longitudinal recess 7 formed in the upper face thereof, the side walls of said recess being inclined as at 8. A stereotype plate 9 has a longitudinal rib 10 extending along the underside thereof which conforms in shape to the recess 8 and is adapted to enter said recess. The remainder of the underside of the plate 9 is flat and rests directly upon the base as is indicated at 1].

For locking the plate and the base together, I employ a key 12 (see Figs. 1 and 4'). This key is in the form of a cross and is adapted to engage with longitudinal grooves 13 and 14: formed in the plateand with longitudinal grooves 15 and 16 formed in the base. When the plate is placed upon the bases, these grooves are brought into alinement with each other and form a socket which is in the shape of a cross in cross section, this socket being adapted to receive the key 12.

The purpose of thus forming the base and the stereotype plate of two parts, is as follows: Firms or manufacturing establishments which do a large quantity of advertising, usually prepare their own stereotype plates and ship them to the newspapers or magazines in which the advertisement is to be published. Now, if each of these plates were integrally formed with base, it will readily be seen that both the cost of producing the plates and the cost of shipping, would be greatly in' creased. It is therefore customary to send to the printer or publisher, one or two of the bases 5 and to then ship to said publishers from time to time, the various stereotype plates which contain the matter to be published. This stereotype plate may then readily be placed upon the base 5 and locked into position thereon by inserting the key 12 in the grooves 13, 14-, 15 and 16.

In the patent to Butterficld & Schm itt above referred to, the plate is not provided with a depending rib adapted to engage in a corresponding recess in the base, but upon the contrary the under face of the plate is provided with a plurality of legs adapted to rest upon the upper face of the base. This made the structure an expensive one, for it required considerably more metal to provide these logs and then the plate had less bearing surface upon the base than is had with the present structure. Furthermore, it was necessary for the opcrator to use considerable care in alining the plate with the base in order that the locking grooves of the plate would register with the locking grooves of the base. With the present structure this is not so, for the entry of the depending rib 10 of the plate into the channel 8 of the base, automatically alines the plate with relation to the base.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that simple and efficient means are herein provided for accomplishing the objects of the invention, but while the elements shown and described are well adapted to serve the purposes for which they are intended, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction set forth, but includes within its purview such changes may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim, is:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination with a base, of a removable stereotype plate having a depending beveled rib extending along its underside, said beveled rib being adapted to enter a corresponding recess formed in the upper face of the base. an elongated rigid key exhibiting in cross section the form of a cross. there being slots corresponding in shape and size with the arms of the key formed in said depending rib and in the base at the bottom of the recess whereby when the engaging surfaces are in contact and the key inserted within the slots, the stereotype plate and base will be locked together.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with a base. of a removable stereotype plate having a depending beveled rib extending along its um'lcrsidc, said beveled rib being adapted to enter a corresponding reccss formed in the upper face o[ the base. an elongated rigid key exhibiting in crol section the form of a cross, there being slots correspondn '"in shape and size with the arms of the key formed in said depending rib and in the base at the bottom of the recess whereby when the engaging surfaces are in contact and the key inserted within the slots the stereotype plate and base will be locked together,

the under-surface of the stereotype plate rcstingdircel'ly upon the upper face of the base upon each side of the central recess of said base.

3 In a device of the character described, the combination with a base having a longitudinal channel formed in the upper face thereof and having two furrows formed therein at the base of said channel which furrows lie at an angle with each other and converge at the surface of a removable stereotype plate having a depending beveled rib conforming in shape to said channel and adapted to enter said channel, said rib having longitudinal furrows formed therein which lie at an angle with each other and which converge to the lower face of the rib, said furrows hibiting in cross section the tern] of a cross and adapted to enter said channel.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presenceof two witnesses.

BENJAMIN C. SCIIMITT.

Witnesses FRANK G. CAMPBELL, L. CARL STOUGIITON. 

